Another week of Menus

My oldest son and I are going through an allergy elimination process that requires us to avoid one specific allergen for a 25 hour period.  My son can't have eggs Friday to Saturday night ... or anything made with eggs ... or even been near birds or down blankets.  He isn't a vegetable fan and I'm a bit baffled as to what he'll be eating.  Help!

Here's what the plan is for everybody else ...

MONDAY:  Chicken Penne Pasta (missed it last week)

TUESDAY:  New Mom Casserole:  4-6 raw chicken breasts, new potatoes, green beans (fresh or canned-really any green veggie would work. Broccoli is good, too). Arrange in 9x13 dish. Sprinkle with a packet of Italian dressing mix and then top with a melted stick of butter. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

WEDNESDAY:  Spaghetti and Meatballs

THURSDAY:  Waffles

FRIDAY:  Take-out

SATURDAY:  Birthday Cake with a side of Pizza!

SUNDAY:  Tacos

What are you eating?

Menu Monday

I made tomato sauce today.  Again.  That's all.

MONDAY:  Mac and cheese (from the box ... sauce days do not involve cooking much else)

TUESDAY:  Crock Pot Little Smokies - not sure if I'm going to use BBQ sauce or grape jelly yet (going to a crock-pot pot-luck)

WEDNESDAY:  Chicken penne pasta

THURSDAY:  Eggs and cinnamon roll cake

FRIDAY:  Take-out

SATURDAY:  Homemade pizza

SUNDAY:  Tacos

There you go.

Mondays and Meals

I should have looked at my meal plan before 3 o'clock in the afternoon ... I guess we won't be having french dip sandwiches made in the crock pot for dinner tonight!  HA!  That's the beauty of my plan, I can switch it up at the drop of a hat.  We'll be having either last week's baked oatmeal or this week's German Pancakes instead.  Although a storm is brewing, so maybe I'll make some cauliflower soup ... Either way, I'd still rather have a plan to deviate from, than no plan at all.  Do I sound like a broken record yet?

Here is my plan (before I forgot to look at it this morning!):

MONDAY:  French Dip Sandwiches

TUESDAY:  Crock pot Jambalya

WEDNESDAY:  Lasagna Spinach roll-ups

THURSDAY:  German Pancakes

FRIDAY:  Tacos

SATURDAY:  Pizza

SUNDAY:  Grilled Cheese sandwiches

Come on, share!  What are you eating?

Meal Plan Monday

So what if I only followed my meal plan 4 out of the last 7 days ... I had a plan!  When dinner time came, life was beautiful!  I didn't have to stress or be creative.  I just had to do.  And I choose to stray.  One night we needed to eat up leftovers and another I had spent the day dealing with 30 cups of shredded zucchini (canned into yummy zucchini relish) and wanted absolutely NOTHING containing zucchini for dinner!

This week I have a lot of busy nights.  I think I have one or two things going most evenings and, for some reason, people like to plan things at dinnertime!  Planning ahead is important for me or else we'll just be eating a lot of pancakes and eggs!

Here's what I'm planning:

MONDAY:  Hot Dogs (last summer bbq)

TUESDAY:  Sweet and Sour Chicken and fried rice

WEDNESDAY:  Chicken Nuggets and crinkle fries (Momma's going out with friends!)

THURSDAY:  Baked Oatmeal

FRIDAY:  Tacos

SATURDAY:  Homemade Pizza

SUNDAY:  Dinner at my mom's house

What's on your plate?

Go, you Chicken Fat, go!

I have lots of goals.  Mini-goals, long-term goals, New Year's Resolutions ... I like goals.  I like aiming for something.  I LOVE evaluating my progress.

Evaluating my weight loss progress has been easy ... I haven't done much.  (I didn't say the evaluation always makes me happy.)

When I weighed myself Friday, I was 3.5 pounds heavier than my wedding day.  I was 7.5 pounds heavier than when I graduated high school.  I was 17.5 pounds heavier than my driver's license says I weigh. (A number that I made up when I renewed in my early twenties and have never bothered to change - it certainly wasn't true then - I'm pretty sure I'm a lot closer to it now than I was back then!)

A friend invited me to join a FaceBook challenge from today until mid-December.  The person/people who reach their goal (or get the closest) wins a prize.  I hesitated to join because I haven't lost any substantial weight in a year, but, in the end, that's why I joined.  I need something to get me progressing. 

My goal ... reach that elusive driver's license weight.  I can only imagine what that would be like.  My-freaky list-making-record-keeping-self knows that I weighed that amount in 8th grade ... that would be 21 years ago, people.  I certainly wasn't a "skinny" girl back then, but I'd love be that skinny now!

Meal Plan Monday

Ahhh, my menu planning is back in swing.  I've mentioned before, I plan out a month at a time and I've got my plan through September.  It is LOVELY!  After a couple of months of "what should we have for dinner?" at 4 pm, I'm ticked to have my groove back!

I'm really hoping to fill my freezer with meals this month as well.  When one of my recipes is a good freezer meal, I'm hoping to make two ... one to eat that night and one to stick in the freezer.  I've done this before and it works really well for me.  Now to somehow convince my husband that I need a FoodSaver???

I need to plan my own lunches better as well.  I've learned that if I don't have something easy to just grab and eat ... I probably won't eat lunch.  That is weird for me because, in the past, I've been opposed to leftovers and a big fan of sandwiches.  Right now though, I just want something I get eat quickly and get on with my day.  This week I intend to make a great big pasta salad with turkey and fruit and veggies in it, smothered in a low-fat coleslaw dressing.  That will be my lunch for several days.

And, because I know you've all been waiting for it most of the summer, I give you ... my Meal Plan Monday!

MONDAY:  Meatloaf (from the freezer) with parmesan squash bake

TUESDAY:  Zucchini Lasagna

WEDNESDAY:  Mac and Cheese (I want to try THIS recipe)

THURDAY:  Zucchini Frittata

FRIDAY:  Fast Food Friday

SATURDAY:  Free dinner at the park (for Tomato Days) or Papa Murphy's Pizza (got a coupon)

SUNDAY:  Zuppa's Cauliflower Soup

Anybody want to guess what veggie my garden is producing a ton of at the moment?

What are you eating?

Linked for fun Menu Plan Monday

It's so quiet here ...

There is rarely a quiet moment at my house.  Four boys will do that to you.

This blog has been quiet a lot this summer.  I like to think that is because we are all out doing and being and enjoying.  I know I have done and been and enjoyed a lot this summer.  Our school system starts tomorrow and it feels like a good time to get back into the blog world.

Summertime means lots of relaxing and, sadly, I relaxed my meal planning.  I thought I was saving myself stress or work by not planning.  I don't know why.  I know better.  Dinner time has been so much more stressful because I didn't plan.  We've eaten way more fast food and take-out than normal.  We've had fewer well balanced meals and I've been more grudging about meal prep. 

Summertime also means late nights with lots of movies and late night chats.  Staying up late makes it really hard to get up early to exercise.  As a result, I wasn't nearly as faithful at working on my fitness goals as I should have been.  I didn't do a single 5k this season.  My family did do a charity walk, but, that's the thing, we did the walk part, not the 5k run. 

My summer wasn't a complete waste fitness-wise.  I ran a PE camp for kids ages 3-12 and absolutely LOVED it.  I had from 5 to 9 kids in each camp and we ran and played and laughed and learned about being healthy and strong.  I did an 18 mile hike over the course of 3 days pulling a handcart in the rain/wind/heat of Wyoming ... and at the end of each day, I felt like I could keep going.  And, I'm down a few pounds today from what I weighed at the beginning of summer.

Somehow, I stumbled on a group on Facebook a couple of weeks ago called "Project GET HEALTHY."  A challenge started last week with the goal to spend 28 days focusing on 3 health and/or fitness goals.  I signed right up.  I needed some more motivation to get me back on track from my enjoyable, yet routine-less summer.  I set my three goals ... very basic goals, but things I'd let slide a lot:

1.  Drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water each days.
2.  Exercise at least 5 days a week for at least 30 minutes.
3.  Track my food and keep my caloric intake within the guidelines on LoseIt.com (for me to reach my weight goal, it suggests 1400 calories daily, plus calories for exercise)

It's been pretty easy to focus on just these three things.  I have loftier goals ... longer work-outs, cutting out processed foods, eating more vegetables, making my meal plans again, etc ... but I'm just focusing on these three for now.  I don't feel overwhelmed.  I don't feel discouraged.  I know these things will get make me healthier.  Will they help me lose weight?  Possibly.  Will they make me more conscience of my health?  Definitely.

What are you working on?  What small goals do you have to become more healthy?  What changes are you making as you send your kids back to school and embrace the routine that comes with that? 

Oh, and I will have my menu posted here again next Monday.  I'm ready for it!

It's not happening...

I've made a few miscalculations in my goal for running the July 4th 5K.

Can I run 3 miles straight? Yes.
Can I do it in a fairly decent time? Not really sure, but I'm thinking 36 minutes isn't too horrible.
Can I do it out of doors on asphalt? Oops. No.

I truely didn't comprehend that road running and treadmill running are two completely different animals. Due to little kiddo's at home and Dennis' early work schedule, in order to run it has been the treadmill or not at all.

Last week (before excuse #2 which I am getting to) I took my run outside for just 1 mile. I had 15 min to run down to my sis-in-laws house, change her sprinklers (she was out of town for a week) and run back home. I knew I could leave my kiddos unattended for that long without one of them bossing the others to death, but couldn't push it much longer. So, I ran. And I suffered shin splints and the sorest muscles I have had since week 3 of the couch to 5K. I couldn't believe the difference, and the poor run time. I couldn't figure out how to pace my mile. I took off running, feeling good and then after block 1 realized that I couldn't keep up that pace. So I slowed down, too much. Back up again, back down. How do you keep a consistant pace? I obviously need some advise. So ladies, help me out here!!

Excuse #2:

This is the view I see from my driveway. That is the Seely Mountain fire that has currently burned 20,000 acres and is 10 miles from my home. Our little valley is filled with smoke. We are having to stay indoors for the most part and breathing isn't fun. None of us have asthma or allergies, and it is still hard on our throats and lungs. I'm not wanting to get outside and breathe heavily in this.

So, I'm sticking with the treadmill for a while longer.
I'm feeling like a wimp. A slightly relieved wimp. I'm a touch frightened of making a fool of  myself.
I'm also feeling a bit empowered. I haven't reached my goal. This means that I can't quit running yet. I have to keep going, because this is one goal I WILL achieve.

Edited Friday July 7:     Just so you know, it was a good thing I had decided to not run. Monday the 2nd Dennis came home from work sick. (This NEVER happens. I think this was the second sick day he has taken since we've been married)  Things got more and more painful for him and I took him to the Dr.  Turns out that his appendix didn't like him anymore. He had surgery Monday evening and was released from the hospital Tuesday just before noon. I stayed over with him while Grandpa had the kids. By the time I got him home, went and got his meds, and finally took a shower it was way past time for me to get some sleep. We didn't even get up until 8 am on the 4th - missed the race entirely. Oh well.  I know there is one coming up around Halloween!!

Two Weeks Down

Last week I began the Couch to 5k program again.  It's been a lot easier to get back into running than I expected.

I have to admit that the hardest part of picking up my running routine again lies in the fact that I have to run early in the morning or not at all.  By 8 a.m. it is over 90 degrees outside and it doesn't cool back down to 90 degrees until about midnight.  And I really don't think I want to run at midnight.  There are bats outside.  They freak me out a bit.

Now that I've completed two weeks of my challenge I'm happy to report that I've run/walked 6 of my 100 mile challenge.  Only 94 to go.  Still not sure how long this is going to take me, but I'm hoping for about three months or so.

It's slow, but it's progress.

My Newest Challenge

I've decided to return to Blog Land.  I've written on my personal blog for two days in a row (my newest record) and it's time to get back onto this blog as well.

So, in keeping my tradition of using this blog to write about the challenges and (eventual) successes of being healthy and losing weight, I am prepared to issue a challenge.

The last nine months have wreaked havoc on my body.  To say I've gained a little weight would be an all out lie.  True, I had a baby, but my philosophy during pregnancy is

So I've got lots of extra poundage to lose.

Luckily for me, my baby girl turns 6 weeks old this week and so I can begin exercising again.  Plus, I told myself that I get to continue eating like junk until Sarah turns 6 weeks old and then I have to begin being conscious about my food again.

So this week I change my eating habits back to healthy and start exercising.  Of course, my abdomen is still a little tender.  Three c-sections will do that to you.  I plan to start out slowly but I still needs me a challenge.  And here it is....

The 100 Miles Challenge

I want to walk (and eventually add in running) 100 miles before Labor Day.  I think I can do it.  You're welcome to join my challenge if you'd like.  See how long it takes to run/walk 100 miles.  I hope to report regularly to keep myself in check.

Summer Dinners

Been on vacation and LOVED having someone else do the cooking.  Sadly, that love translated into a few additional pounds on the scale.  I've got some weight to lose this summer!

I gotta hop on Pinterest and get some new ideas for dinners in the summer time.  I've got the same old, same old on the menu.  Bleh. Anybody want to share some light dinners?

MONDAY:  Chinese take-out (we were barely home and I wasn't cooking)

TUESDAY:  German pancakes and turkey sausage with fruit

WEDNESDAY:  Spaghetti

THURSDAY:  Tin Foil dinners

FRIDAY:  Tacos

SATURDAY:  Homemade pizza

SUNDAY:  Either Steaks or Burgers on the grill

One month to July 4th, and a 5K

I have been MIA for quite a while. 4 boys and baseball season will do that to you. Luckily only 2 are playing, but that is more than enough when you figure in all the practices.

On July 4th our little middle-of-nowhere town has a celebration. There's a parade that consists mostly of pick-up trucks, 4 wheelers and construction equipement. Booths in the park that sell all sorts of random nick-nacks. Local entertainment that actually can, sometimes, be pretty good. BBQ's, fireworks and home-made ice-cream. Also, early that morning there is a 5K race. Back in January I made a New Year's goal to run in that race.

I have been working on this for way too long. And honestly when I look back and say I've been at this for 5 months, I'm feeling a bit pathetic.  I can consistently run a 5K in 36 minutes. I've been able to do that for the past 6 weeks. I'm having a hard time getting faster, and honestly, it isn't getting any easier. But I am being consistent. I've actually dropped 8 pounds in the past 3 months.  One more month of my supposed "training" and then I'll let you know how I really do.

Food Sch-mood Plan

My husband is at a work conference all week.  It is very difficult for me to want to spend any time making culinary masterpieces for my 4 munchkins who would be tickled with frozen chicken nuggets every night.  Sadly, I don't have any frozen chicken nuggets.  And we had the last of the frozen mini-corn dogs last night.

So, in desperation, I came back to my menu.  I don't know that I'll actually make anything on it this week, but at least I can look prepared ...

MONDAY:  (pretend I didn't just tell you about the mini-corn dogs) Stew and homemade bread

TUESDAY:  Pasta Alfredo

WEDNESDAY:  Hot dogs and oven fries

THURSDAY:  Pancakes and sausage

FRIDAY:  Baked Mac and Cheese

SATURDAY:  Pizza

SUNDAY:  Eatin' at the Mom Cafe

Meal Plan Monday

I got to be recharged this weekend.  I went to a Moms Retreat and spent two days being told how wonderful being a mom is and how it is very hard but totally worth it.  Yep.  Totally worth it.  My meal plans help make it a little less hard...

Here's what we've got planned:

MONDAY:  Leftover pork from Sunday dinner

TUESDAY:  Baked ziti

WEDNESDAY:  Bow tie chicken salad (didn't do last week)

THURSDAY:  Baked oatmeal

FRIDAY:  Fast Food Friday

SATURDAY:  Pizza

SUNDAY:  Grilled hot dogs and hamburgers

Monday Meals in May

I'm not feeling very witty or wordy or wise, so this will be short and sweet (I am digging all the alliteration though).

My dinners for the week:

MONDAY:  Chicken Pot Pie Bundles (I couldn't find the egg roll wraps, but I found filo dough yesterday, so I'll do that instead)

TUESDAY:  Birthday Spaghetti and Meatballs (My baby is turning 2!)

WEDNESDAY:  Bow Tie Chicken Salad

THURSDAY:  Eggs, bacon, and muffins

FRIDAY:  Pizza

SATURDAY:  Take-out

SUNDAY:  Pulled Pork sandwiches (I'm hosting Mother's Day dinner)

Tell me what you are all eating!

Meal Plan Monday

It is almost May.  Holy Moly!  That means it is almost summer vacation!  I am very much looking forward to the not-so-lazy days of summer this year!  (if you haven't heard, I'm doing a day camp called Camp FitPlay for ages 3-9 ... check it out)

But, first we have to make it through evening swimming lessons and all the other May activities we have planned ... I love having my plan to fall back on (and my food storage ... although I am completely out of white sugar!  I know it isn't good for me, but I can't believe I'm completely out - for the first time in nearly 14 years of marriage!)  I digress ... my freezer is getting me through this week.  Here's my plan:

MONDAY:  Spinach Lasagna Rolls

TUESDAY:  Sweet and Sour Chicken and rice

WEDNESDAY:  Chicken Pot Pie Bundles (I have the filling in my freezer and I'm want to get egg roll wraps - if I can find them - to make bundles like these)

THURSDAY:  Pancakes and sausage and hashbrowns

FRIDAY:  Pizza

SATURDAY:  Taco Haystacks (Happy Cinco de Mayo)

SUNDAY:  Crockpot ham and potatoes

And, just for the record, we have some sort of fruit and vegetable with most every meal (well, not usually vegetables with pancakes).  Sometimes they are cooked, sometimes it is just carrots and celery with ranch dip.  I should get better about planning those healthy side dishes ... I'll add it to the "should" list.

Meal Plan for another week

(hmmm ... blogger has changed things up.  change can be good or a real pain in the patootie!)

I'm planning my groceries and I'm on the computer, so you get an early menu again this week.  But, it is a boring one!  You see, the past week, we strayed quite a bit from my plan (a luxury a good food storage provides) and so I'm throwing a bit of last week back in with this week.  Here you go:

MONDAY:  Crockpot Peach BBQ Sauce Chicken (I made the peach bbq sauce last canning season) and rice

TUESDAY:  Baked Ziti and homemade bread

WEDNESDAY:  Leftovers (this actually requires planning because I have to make enough of the previous nights' meals to HAVE leftovers)

THURSDAY:  Waffles and ice cream

FRIDAY:  Quinoa Mac & Cheese

SATURDAY:  Pizza

SUNDAY: Sloppy Joes

There you go.  Happy eating! :)

Menu Plan Someday

We updated our 72 Hour kits over the weekend and I had an old friend stop by yesterday that threw off my meal preparation.  So it is very convenient that I hadn't posted my menu plan yet!  Those meals we didn't eat ... get bumped a couple of weeks and all is well.

MONDAY:  72 Hour Kit Smorgasbord (my eldest called it "junk food dinner" but most of the food is actually as healthy as you can get for food that is supposed to last a year!)

TUESDAY:  Ravioli

WEDNESDAY:  Quinoa Mac & Cheese

THURSDAY:  Waffles

FRIDAY:  Oven Baked Fajitas

SATURDAY:  Pizza

SUNDAY:  probably at my Mom's house

What's on your menu?

If I have to ... Meal Plan

We had friends over for a murder mystery dinner Friday and hosted the family Easter party yesterday.  I'm a little tired of thinking about and preparing and, quite honestly, eating food.  Planning meals for the week has no appeal. 

This is when I'm thankful that I do a month at a time.  I already have my week planned.  I'm going to fiddle with it, because that is what I do, but at least my food weary brain doesn't have to start from scratch.  And, because of my food weariness, we are going to have breakfast for dinner TWICE this week.  Take that all you non-breakfast for dinner people!

MONDAY:  Crockpot Oatmeal (didn't make it last week)

TUESDAY:  Chicken Alfredo and asparagus

WEDNESDAY:  Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken maybe with some Quinoa Fried Rice

THURSDAY:  French Toast and bacon

FRIDAY:  Tacos

SATURDAY:  Pizza

SUNDAY:  Cauliflower Soup

Oh, and most meals will have a side of Hard Boiled Egg Chocolate Chip Cookies because we have lots and my boys don't really like 'em.  Happy Eating!

No, foolin' ... Here's my meal plan!

I love April Fool's Day.  Truly.  I'm looking forward to my kids being older and really getting into it.  Right now, it just feels mean.  I did make spaghetti and meatball cupcakes yesterday - regular cupcakes decorated to look like spaghetti and meatballs.  My husband didn't know that though.  I offered him one of the extra, undecorated cupcakes and he tentatively licked the frosting asking if there was garlic powder in it or something.  Then he took tiny bites of the cake over the sink, just in case there was a glob of spaghetti sauce or something waiting to get him.  I think THAT is my favorite part of the day ... my husband, completely unsure of my every move and constantly thinking I'm going to "get him!" 

Ahh.

But now it is Monday and time for another week of menus ...

MONDAY:  Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese

TUESDAY:  Fish and asparagus

WEDNESDAY:  Lasagna Roll ups

THURSDAY:  Crockpot Oatmeal

FRIDAY:  Hawaiian food - We are hosting a Luau Murder Mystery Dinner and I'm still refining the menu.

SATURDAY:  Pizza of some sort

SUNDAY:  Ham and other Easter fixings for the family party at our house

Happy Easter, friends!

Meal Plan Monday

The last week of March ... really?  My cherry tree is in bloom!  Did time go this fast before I got old?

Oh, and that cauliflower soup I made last week?  I LOVED it!  You gotta try it!  If you like potato soup at all, I bet you'll like it.  It did boil over and made a lovely mess on my stove, but it was worth it. I put a serving in the freezer and plan to have it for lunch today ... I'm hoping it will be a good addition to my freezer meals.

But enough of that raving.  Here is what we'll be eating this week:

MONDAY:  Steak and baked potatoes

TUESDAY:  Jambalaya

WEDNESDAY:  Baked Ziti

THURSDAY:  Pancakes and bacon

FRIDAY:  Corn Dogs (hopefully a dinner out for the parental units)

SATURDAY:  Pizza

SUNDAY:  Sandwich buffet and salads

Monday's Meal Plan on Saturday

I'm doing my menu for the week before I head to the grocery store.  Since I'm on the computer anyway, I figured I'd go ahead and post my menu on here.  Any complaints?  Didn't think so.

Luck o'the Irish to ya.

SUNDAY:  Cauliflower Soup (supposed to taste like Zupas - we'll see)

MONDAY:  Lasagna Rolls

TUESDAY:  White Chili

WEDNESDAY:  Chicken, veggies, and pasta

THURSDAY:  French Toast

FRIDAY:  Subway Sandwiches

SATURDAY:  Pizza

SUNDAY:  BBQ Chicken and potatoes
 

March Monday Menu

Does it feel like Spring where you are?  I know Spring here really means rain and snow overnight that melts by lunch and wind storms and all, but it also means perfect temperatures and sunshine.  We've been taking family walks and starting a little yard work and I'm itching to get my garden started.  The weather does make it a little hard to want to be inside making dinner ... but that's my current job and I'll do it best I can!

Here's what we'll be eating this week (most likely, anyway):

MONDAY:  Build Your Own Taco (aka taco salads, but the boys eat it better by the other name)

TUESDAY:  Tator Tot casserole (I'm generally not a fan, but a friend raved about it last week, so I'll give it another try)

WEDNESDAY:  Mac & Cheese

THURSDAY:  Green Eggs and Ham (in honor of Dr. Seuss and St. Pat's day)

FRIDAY: Chicken Parm

SATURDAY:  Four Leaf Clover pizza

What's on your menu?

Another Week of Menus

I need to go to the grocery store.  Bad.  I have a great supply of food in our storage room and our milk is delivered twice a week, but the other perishable things are what we are seriously lacking!  It makes for creative meal concocting! 

However, I should be able to hit the stores tomorrow and this is what I'm planning to make for the week:

MONDAY:  Crock-pot Orange Chicken (from my freezer) and rice

TUESDAY:  Tony's Favorite Casserole (similar to this recipe)

WEDNESDAY:  Tin Foil Dinners (on the grill would be best, but they will probably just have to be done in the oven)

THURSDAY:  Waffles, berry sauce, and ice cream

FRIDAY:  Taco Haystacks

SATURDAY:  Pizzas (school fundraiser and already in the freezer)

SUNDAY:  Dinner at my Mom's

My menu is getting boring, dudes.  I started posting these things a year and a month ago.  I'm noticing that we eat a lot of the same things over and over. Who's going to give me some new ideas?

Menu Monday

I've been enjoying some unplugged time.  Not completely unplugged, but I've been on my computer much less than usual...and it has been nice.  However, my father-in-law mentioned my lack of blogging on the boys' blog ... and so here I am.

I've been following a loose plan for most of the month.  With all the birthdays and holidays, we've eaten out a lot and eaten a lot more junk than normal.  As much fun as all that celebrating has been (three birthdays, Valentine's Day, and a family party in 19 days), I'm looking forward to the routine of a plain, old, boring Meal Plan.

Here's my plan for the week:

MONDAY:  Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole (made with quinoa instead of rice)

TUESDAY:  Sweet and Sour Meatballs

WEDNESDAY:  Chicken Parm with Noodles

THURSDAY:  mini-German Pancakes and sausage

FRIDAY:  Left-overs or Fast Food Friday

SATURDAY:  Pizza-rama

SUNDAY:  Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

What are you eating these days?

Meals

Getting dinner on the table is a challenge.  We sometimes forgo the menu plan and have another breakfast night because it is easy and the chaos called the 4 o'clock hour makes it hard to get dinner started and ready to eat by 5:30.  When planning this week, ease was the theme.  Peace and ease.

MONDAY:  Hodge Podge Soup (crock-pot delight and some homemade bread or rolls)

TUESDAY:  Turkey-Meatloaf (from the freezer) and steak fries (because only a third of the family will eat baked potatoes)

WEDNESDAY:  Freezer surprise ... I know I have a crock-pot or casserole of some sort of chicken in the freezer.  I just don't remember what it is right now.

THURSDAY:  Pancakes, eggs, and turkey bacon

FRIDAY:  Basketball food ... we are taking the boys to the high school basketball game, so we'll either grab fast food or concessions food

SATURDAY:  Tacos (because I'm actually sick of pizza and the meat is already seasoned and in the freezer ready to go)

SUNDAY:  Dinner at my mom's house

There you go, my week of quick and easy and somewhat healthy meals.  Ease.

Food

Hi.  My name is Cindy.  My home is probably not as clean as your house.  My children probably are not as well mannered.  My fingernails not as well groomed.  My faith not as strong.  However, I have a plan for our meals this week.  Do you?

MONDAY:  Oven Fajitas (because had to have a leftover night last week and these got bumped)

TUESDAY:  Fish and Rice (because people say it is good for me)

WEDNESDAY:  Mini-German pancakes

THURSDAY:  Pizza and cupcakes (birthday 1 of 3 at our house this month)

FRIDAY:  Baked Ziti

SATURDAY:  Tacos

SUNDAY:  Pulled Buffalo Chicken sandwiches

Gotta celebrate the little successes! 

Monday Morning Resolve

I generally wait to start a new goal on Mondays.  But by the Saturday or Sunday beforehand I often lose sight of what I want to accomplish.

Luckily for me, today (Sunday) was my wake up call.  And I'm hoping to still have the drive and desire tomorrow when I wake up and attempt to get out of bed.

You see, I hate cute pregnant women.  You know the ones I mean.  You can't tell they're pregnant from behind and when they do turn around, all they have is this basketball where their flat belly once was.  They are so cute.  And I hate them.

Give me a beached-whale pregnant woman any day.  She is one I can identify with.

Not only can I identify with her, I am her.

This morning I discovered a hole in the crotch of my pants.  And it's HUGE.  And it's the pair of pants I just bought a few weeks ago to replace the pair of pants I originally ripped in the crotch.  TMI?  Probably.

I do not look like I have a cute basketball in my tummy.  I look like I recently ate a Dunkin Donuts out of business.

And so I hope to get some exercise in my day.  And maybe cut out a few extra meals a day.

But I truly hope to get a little healthier over the next 108 days.

And how have you been?

Meals

I'm ahead of schedule!  It is only Sunday night, but I'm putting up my menus.  I know.  Call me crazy!

This week's menu comes to us courtesy of Pinterest (if you aren't on there and you crave ideas galore, you've got to get on it).  None of these aren't things I already would eat, just new variations of them.  That being the case, I can't say whether they will taste good or not!  Follow at your own risk!

MONDAY:  Quinoa Mac and Cheese

TUESDAY:  Oven Fajitas

WEDNESDAY:  Broccoli and Potato Soup

THURSDAY:  Pancakes with vanilla pudding sauce and strawberries

FRIDAY:  Sweet and Sour Meatballs (my own concoction, believe it or not!)

SATURDAY:  Pizza night

SUNDAY:  Chicken Parmigiana Casserole (this recipe or this one)

What's your poison?

Ragnar Anyone?

I'm not sure I'm completely committed to this crazy idea; but I think I want to run a Ragnar.

From the Ragnar website:

Ragnar is the overnight running relay race that makes testing your limits a team sport. A team is made up of 6-12 individuals; each individual runs 3 legs. The legs of the race vary in difficulty and distance, from 3-8 miles, allowing elite and novice runners to run together. Over 2 days and 1 night, teams run across 200 miles of the country’s most scenic terrain. Pair that with crazy costumes, inside jokes, a great finish line party and unforgettable stories. Some call it a slumber party without sleep, pillows or deodorant. We call it Ragnar.

I have friends that have run these in Utah and from Cumberland, MD to Washington D.C. My goal would not be to win... but to finish. The June 15-16 race that runs from Logan to Park City is currently full - not accepting new teams. I could work with an existing team, though? Alternately there's Colorado in July or Vegas in November.

Anybody think this is CRAZY? Anybody willing to join me in some insanity?

Dinners this week

Today is my Monday.  Yesterday was an-accomplish-nothing day.  If I don't get these kids healthy for more than a day in a row, I'm going to go bonkers!  This time it is ear infections in two of the boys.  So, I took part of yesterday as an emotional sick day.  I chilled.  I colored with my 2 year old.  I did the bare minimum necessary to maintain the house.

So today is my Manic Monday.  And these are our dinners this week ...

MONDAY:  Waffles and fruit and ice cream

TUESDAY:  Meatloaf and baked potatoes

WEDNESDAY:  Baked Spaghetti

THURSDAY:  Baked Oatmeal

FRIDAY:  Broccoli Soup of some sort (TBD)

SATURDAY:  Homemade pizza

SUNDAY:  Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

How's your week looking?

Menu Monday

Does food ever just not sound good to you?  I'm having one of those days.  As I look at my menu for the week, nothing sounds appetizing for dinner.  Bummer.

MONDAY:  Chili and corn bread

TUESDAY:  Sausage and pepper penne pasta

WEDNESDAY:  Chicken stir fry and rice

THURSDAY:  Pancakes and Vienna Sausages (still don't understand why my kids love those)

FRIDAY: Frozen Pizza (mom and dad are going out!)

SATURDAY:  Taco Haystacks

SUNDAY:  Dinner at my mom's

What are you eating this week?

Meal Plan Monday

Hi, all.  I think I'm back.  We had a rough December with sick people around our house so my meal plans were often altered with sick friendly food.  The last couple of weeks, I've hardly bothered at all because I knew it wasn't going to happen!   After an extremely rough New Year's Day, I finally found time today to sit down and plan out my January. 

I did find time to defrost my deep freezer sometime in there, so I know what I've got and my menu is an attempt to use up the things that were lurking in the bottom!

Here's this week's plan:

MONDAY:  Scrambled eggs with ham and cheese, toast, and blueberry banana smoothies (sick tummies are still plaguing us)

TUESDAY:  Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole, green salad

WEDNESDAY:  Meatloaf and baked potatoes (or roasted potato wedges), green beans

THURSDAY:  Pasta and veggies, cottage cheese and canned fruit

FRIDAY:  Take-out of some sort

SATURDAY:  Homemade pizza

SUNDAY:  Orange Chicken from the freezer

What's your plan?